Apparatus for liquid treatment of photographic films



April 2, 1929. D. F. COMSTOCK 0 APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed April 17, 1923- 2 Sheets-Sheet x 7 fianiell't'omsiocze Inventor W,W. M9 dtfo'rimgl I. a l l 1 l l I I l l I ll ll l lH Ul l l H l H I I IUNH HUNPJQI LIIIF l1 April 2, 1929. o. F. coMsTocK APPARATUS FOR LJ' QUID TREATMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS Filed April 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Inventor flannel]? Cam .9 Zack Patented Apr.. 2, 192 9.

UNITED STATES PATENT 1,707,709 OFFICE.

DANIEL F. COM STOCK, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO TECHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MAS- SACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

APPARATUS FOR LIQUID TREATMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

. Application filed April 17, 1923. Serial No. 632,666.

This invention relates to the continuous treatment of strip material-and in particu lar-comprises improved apparatus for sensitizing, dyeing, tinting, developing, fixing,

drying or otherwise treating motion picture films or other strip material, particularly photographic material. Y

Objects of the invention are to provide improved apparatus adapted for commercial use for continuously feeding film or other strip material through a treating solution to render the treatment rapid, accurate and uniform, to avoid injury to or mutilation of the strip material in the various stages of '15 the treatment, to prevent the sensitized or emulsion side of photographic film from coming in contact with'the parts of the apparatus along which it moves, to permit the use of a relatively small amount of treating solution, to provide means for constantly agitating the solution in order that its action may be uniform, to provide combined treating, washing, and drying apparatus.

compactly arranged, and in general to overcome, the defects of previous devices to the end that satisfactory and eflicient service may be rendered by devices of this kind.

For the purpose of more clearly disclosing the means by which the above objects are attained, one embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View;

Fig. 2 is a side elvational view;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of 4c is .a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and I Fig. 6 is-an elevational view partly in section of a pump for use with the apparatus. i

The embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose of illustration comprises apparatus for the liquid; treatment of elongate strips of material such as photographic film, particularly cinematographic film, and includes an elongate liquid chamber 7 preferably disposed horizontally and containing liquid for the treatment of a strip of film F arranged to'be passed longitudinally therethrough. Chamber 7 has upwardly disposed ends terminating in flared mouths 8 and- 9,

section with the curved port-ion thereof dismouth 8 being slightly lower than mouth 9 whereby the treating liquid may be added from time to time as needed, through mouth 9 and may overflow through mouth 8, the overflow being caught by suitable means such as a funnel 10.

Liquid chamber 7 may be of any suitable or desired form in cross section, provided that in the treatment of photographic film the emulsion side' of the film be prevented from'contacting with the walls of the chamber. One shape of liquid chamber which has been found satisfactory in use is disclosed in sectional views of Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive. The greater portion of the chamber is tubular in form and circular in cross section, the diameter thereof being preferably slightly less than the width of the film.so that the latter is lightly gripped and slightly bent or flexed transversely as it is moved through the chamber. Since film cannot be longitu dinally and transversely bent at the same time, the form of the chamber is changed adjacent the ends, as shown in Fig. 5, to a substantially semi-circular shape in cross- 8'0 posed downwardly. The top portion, however, is not entirely flat, but is slightly domed or arched as indicated at 11 in Fig.

5, and the width of the chamber is here slightly greater than that of the film so that the latter lies flat, but the arched top of the chamber permits the film to contact the chamber only at its margins, whereby the face of the film is kept out of contact with the chamber itself.

VVhilo the chamber 7 may be of any material which will not be affected by the treating solution used therein and which will not have a deleterious effect on the film, the material should preferably be transparent such as glass so that the height of solution within the chamber can be'readily determined as well as the disposition of film F as it passes therethrough.

To obtain uniform results in the liquid treatment of'photographic material the treating solution should; be constantly agitated.

'A preferred means for agitating the solution within the members the solution therein may be forced back into chamber 7 to produce an agitation of the solution therein. One means ,for alternately producing conditions of negative and positive pressure within the members 12 comprise ducts or pipes 14 and 15 in spaced parallel relation above chamber 7, these pipes leading from opposite ends of the closed pump cylinder 16, the piston 17 of which is reciprocated therein by a pitman 18 connected to a crank disc 19 arranged to be r0 tated by any suitable prime mover. In order to agitate the solution within chamber 7 without substantially varying its level, an even number of tubular members 12 is employed, half of which are connected to pipe 14 and the other half to pipe 15 by any suitable means such as a fiexible'air tight connection 2O (Fig. 3). In order to set the agitating mechanismto operate equally in.

both series of tubular members 12, relief valves 21 are provided in each of pipes 14, 15. The piston 17 being set midway of cylinder 16, valves 21 are opened so that normal air pressure obtains in both pipes 14,15. Valves 21 are then closed whereupon on reciprocation of piston 17 equal but opposite air pressures are produced in the pipes 14 and 15. y

In order to-maintain the solution within chambers 7 at a constant temperature the latter may be placed within a trough 22 supported on a suitable base 23 which may take the form of a tableas indicated in Fig. 2. The trough may be supplied with water at a constant temperature to a level slightly below the lower edge of mouth 8 of chamber 7 (Figs. 2 and 3) and maintained at that level by suitable inlets and outlets not shown.

As film F issues from chamber 7 it is directed upwardly over a guide roller 24 and thence through a suitable washing box 25, provided with liquid sprays 26 supplied from pipe 27 and air, sprays 28 sup lied from a pipe 29, these spraying devices eing preferably of the form shown in Patent No. 1,380,- 279 of W lliam'B. Wescott. a

After the film has been washedand the superficial liquid removed therefrom by the devices just described, it is directed into a drying chamber 30, the entrance of which is disposedvertically above the exit end of liquid chamber 7, but which extends obliquely therefrom until it reaches a point 31 (Fig.

1) where it is beyond' trough 22, whence it respectively (Fig. 2).

extends downwardly by vertical section 32 and thence in parallel juxtaposed relation to the trough 22, having its outlet at 33 (Fig. 1). Heated air may be supplied to the drying chamber through any desired number of suitable inlets such as 34 (Figs. 1 and 2) and is exhausted at the end of the chamber through which the film enters. In order to permit inspection and adjustment of the film in its passage through the drying chamber 30, hinged doors 35 may be provided at intervals. Certain of these doors may have transparent panels 36 through which the film may be inspected without opening the doors.

The course of the film through the treatmentapparatus herein disclosed is clearly indicated in Fig. 2, the film starting from a reel 37 mounted on a suitable bracket 38 upon the upper portion of drying chamber 30 at one end thereof, whence it is fed downwardly under roller 38 (Fig. 2), thence into mouth 8 of liquid chamber 7 and longitudinally through the chamber, issuing through mouth 9 whence it is directed upwardly over roller 24, thence through washing box 25 and into drying chamber 30, being guided therethrough by suitable rollers 39, and issuing between rollers 40 at the outlet 33 of the drying chamber, where it may" be reeled up by a suitable take-up reel 41, which is operated either manually or by suit-able power means to draw the film through the various treating devices herein shown.

A preferred type of pump, disclosed in Fig. 6, comprises a centrally pivoted lever or walking beam 42 supported by a bracket 43 and rocked by a link 44 pivoted to lever 42 and to a crank disc v45 rotated by any suitable prime mover. Attached to the opposite ends of lever or beam 42 are hollow cylindri cal pistons 46 adaptedto be reciprocated in guide tubes 47 loosely receivin same, said guide tubes extending downwardly into fluid chambers 48. From the closed tops of these chambers issue pipes or ducts 49 and 50 adapted to be connected to pipes 14 and 15 Fluid chambers 48 are partially filled with any suitable liquid such as water. As pistons 46 are forced downwardly into the chambers 48 they displace a portion of the water causing a positive air pressure in the upper portion of the chambers and as the pistons 46 are withdrawn they produce a negativeair pressure or suction in the chambers, provided the pressure within the chambers is normal when the cylinders are midway of their stroke. Since the tubular guides 47 extend almost to the bottom of chambers 48, an air lock is formed which prevents all leakage so that a pump of the type shown in Fig. 6 will operate indefinitely as originally set.

From the above it will be evident that a liquid chamber of-the type herein disclosed is adapted to prevent allinjury to or mutila tion of a film passed therethrough and to prevent contact of either face of the latter with the Walls of the chamber; that the agitating apparatus herein disclosed will keep the solution within the liquid chamber 7 in constant motion without substantially changing the level thereof; that the fluid chamber 7 is adapted to produce economy in the use of treatment solutions, certain of which, particularly' those used in dyeing and tinting films, are very expensive, since only a limited quantity is used at one time and this quantity may be efficiently agitated until a sub stantial part of the strength thereof is utilized; that fresh solution may be conveniently added as needed; that by the provision of the obliquely extending upper portion of the drying chamber economy of space in assembling the apparatus is achieved; and that the film may be directed continuously through the apparatus Without substantial bends or distortion thereof.

An important feature of the invention con- I sists in the arrangement of parts whereby the film path through the apparatus is so short and the resistance to the passage of the film is so slight that the film may be pulled through the apparatus with a force applied solely beyond theexit end of the apparatus. Another important feature consists in that the apparatus is adapted to handle film before it is perforated thereby eliminating the tendency of the film to pile up between successive sprocket wheels due to the excessive expansion to which blank film. is subjected when Wet.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of an elongate liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and having upwardly bent ends, means for passing a film through the chamber, said chamber at its bent ends being formed to engage the marginal portions of the film to thereby maintain the face of the film out of contact with i the walls of the chamber.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and hav ing upwardlyv bent ends, and means for pass ing a film through the chamber, said chamber being formed to engage the marginal.

portions of the film throughout substantially its entire length, thereby to maintain the face of the film out of contact with the walls of the chamber.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid'chamber substantially horizontally disposed, means for passing a film through said chamber, the greatest transverse inner dimension of said chamber being less than the width of the film whereby the latter is slightly flexed by the walls of said chamber in its passage therethrough.

4. In apparatus of the class described; the combination of a tubular liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and having upwardly bent ends, means for passing a film through said chamber, said chamber being arranged throughout its length to engage the marginal portions of said film thereby to prevent the faces of said film from coming in contact with the walls of the chamber.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tubular liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and having upwardly inclined ends, means for passing a film through said chamber, said chamber being arranged throughout its length to engage the marginal portions of said film thereby to prevent the faces of the film from coming in contact with the walls of the chamher, and a portion of said chamber being arranged to flex said film during its passage therethrough.

6; In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and having upwardly inclined ends, one end being higher than the other whereby liquid may be supplied at one end and overflow at the other, I and means for passing a film through said chamber. A

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination-.of .LIl elongate liquid chamber substantiallyhorizontally disposed and having upwardly inclined ends with. flared mouths, one mouth being higher than the other whereby liquid may be supplied at one end and overflow at the other, and means for passing a film through said chamber, the chamber being constructed and arranged to engage the marginal portions of the film and prevent the faces thereof from contacting the walls of the chamber.

' 8. In apparatus of the class described, the, combination of an elongate liquid chamber, means for passing a film longitudinally through the chamber, and means for simul- 11 taneously withdrawing and replacing portions of the liquidin said chamber thereby to agitate the liquid without substantially vary ing its level.

9. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid chamber,. and means for simultaneously withdrawing and replacing portions of the liquid in said chamber thereby to agitate the liquid without substantially varying its level.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid chamber,- a hollow member connected to said chamber, and means for alternately producing conditions of positive and negative pressure within said member, whereby the amountof liquid in said member received from said chamher is alternately decreased and increased thereby to agitate the liquid in said chamber.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of an elongate liquid chamber, a plurality of hollow members connected to said chamber, and means for alternately producing conditions of positive and negative pressure within said members respectively,

whereby the amount of liquid in said members bers alternately to withdraw liquid from and replace liquid in said chamber thereby to agitate the liquid in the chamber.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongate liquid chamber, a plurality of hollow members each connected to said chamber, and means causing different members simultaneously to withdraw liquid from and replace liquid in said chamber re-v spectively thereby to agitate the liquid in the chamber, the amount withdrawn being substantially equal to the amount replaced, whereby'the level of the liquid in the chamberis maintained constant.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a tubular liquid chamber horizontally disposed, a series of tubular members connected to the lower side of said chamber, and means for drawing liquid into certain of said members and simultaneously forcing liquid out of others of said members thereby to agitate the liquid in the chamber. l

15. In apparatus of the class described, a film treating chamber, a plurality of liquid ducts communicating with said chamber at spaced points, and means for alternately flowing liquid into andout of said chamber respectively through said ducts, the inflow and outflow taking place concomitantly and approximately equally so that the quantityof liquid in the chamber remains approximately constant. v

16. In apparatus of the class described, a

tubular liquid chamber horizontally disposed,

a series of tubular members'communicating with the interior of saidchamber at spaced intervals along the length of the chamber, and a pair of conduits alternately under conditions of positive and negative pressure, said conduits being connected to alternate tubular members respectively, whereby the liquidin said members is agitated; I

17 In apparatus of theg class described the combination of an elongate liquidchamber substantially horizontally disposed, means for passing a film through said chamber, said chamber being arranged to engage the edges of said film to prevent the faces of said film from coming in contact with the walls of the chamber, and means for simultaneously withdrawing and replacing portions of the liquid supplied to said chamber thereby to agitate the liquid Without substantially varying the level thereof.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tubular liquid chamber substantially horizontally disposed and having upwardly inclined ends, means for passing a film through said chamber, said chamber being arranged to engage the marginal portions of said film throughout substantially the entire length of the chamber, thereby to prevent the faccs of the film. from coming in contact with thewalls of 1c chamber, and a portion of said chamber being. arranged to flex the film during its passage theret'hrough, a plurality of hollow members each connected to said chamber, and pumping means carrying said members alternately to withdraw liquid from and replace liquid in said chamber thereby to agitate the liquid.

19. In apparatus of the class described, a substantially horizontal liquid chamber, a fluid treatment device above one end of said chamber, a drying chamber having one end adjacent the rear of said device, said drying chamber extending obliquely above said liquid chamber in a plane substantially parallel thereto and thence downwardly into parallel juxtaposition with said liquid chamber, and means for passing a strip of material continuously through said liquid chamber, said treatment device, and said drying chamber.

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of three elongate film treating chambers, two of the chambers being approximately parallel but offset from each other, and the third chamber extending obliquelyfrom the end of one of the parallel chambers to the other end of the other chamber, and

means for passing a cinematographic film through said chambers in series.

21. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of three elongate film treating chambers, two of the chambers being approximately parallel but offset from each other, and the third chamber extending obliquely from the end of one of the parallel chambers to the other end of the other chamber, means for passing a cinematographic film through said chambers inseries, liquid treatment means in the first chamber, means for washing the film in the oblique chamber, and the third chamber constituting a drying chamber.

Signed by me at Boston, Mass this elev- DANIEL 

